GEOPHYSICAL AND LABORATORY STUDIES OF THE SPREAD AND QUALITY OF THE ODUKPANI LIMESTONE DEPOSIT

Abstract

The Odukpani limestone deposit has been investigated using geophysical and laboratory techniques with the aim of generating information on its spread and quality. Information generated from the analyses of twenty-six Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) and core drilling data were used in the study. The VES data were acquired in both grid and random patterns in the immediate area of the limestone mineralisation and the adjoining areas using the Schlumberger array was adopted in acquiring the VES data in both grid and random patterns in the limestone mineralized and the adjoining areas. Cored limestone samples were analysed using the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) method in order to determine their elemental composition and consequently quality. Both manual and computer modeling techniques were used in modeling the VES. Results show that the limestones have limited spread and have high concentration of Ca (11,200%) and K (302,400%). Mean electrical resistivity of the limestone horizon is 405 Ωm which is suggestive of a limestone deposit that is not pure but contaminated with Fe (8,620%), shaly and other contaminants. The limestone deposit is limited in both vertical and lateral extents. Thus the deposit will not favor any large scale mining operation and equipment deployed for its exploitation must be corrosion resistant type.